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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






2. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






3. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






4. A piece of music written in triple time. Also an old French dance.






5. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






6. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






7. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






8. Written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part. Each part bears the same importance.






9. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






10. The principal note of a triad.






11. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






12. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






13. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






14. Closing section of a movement.






15. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






16. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






17. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






18. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






19. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






20. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






21. Unmusical - without tone.






22. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






23. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






24. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






25. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






26. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






27. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






28. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






29. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






30. The structure of a piece of music.






31. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






32. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






33. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






34. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






35. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






36. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






37. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






38. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






39. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






40. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






41. A composition written for eight instruments.






42. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






43. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






44. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






45. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






46. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






47. A repeated phrase.






48. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






49. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






50. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.